The Merit of the Glorious Quran

Allaah, Exalted be He, sent His Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu álayhi wa sallam, to all humanity as a guide and mentor. Allaah made His message the last one, and made it a universal message until the Last Hour. Allaah sent down the Glorious Quran to Prophet Muhammad and He preserved and protected it against any distortion, change, or alteration. We still recite the Glorious Quran in the same form revealed to our Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu álayhi wa sallam. The Glorious Quran is relevant for each and every time and place. It guides all people, regardless of their different colors and languages, to the path of goodness and it leads them to the truth, and to safety and happiness in this world as well as the Hereafter. Allaah, the Almighty, said (what means):

"O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Now has come to you Our Messenger (Muhammad) explaining to you much of that which you used to hide from the Scripture and passing over (i.e. leaving out without explaining) much. Indeed, there has come to you from Allaah a light (Prophet Muhammad) and a plain Book (this Quran). Wherewith Allaah guides all those who seek His Good Pleasure to ways of peace, and He brings them out of darkness by His Will unto light and guides them to a Straight Way (Islamic Monotheism)." [Quran: 5:15-16]

The Glorious Quran contains all the rules, regulations, and guidelines that people need to reform their lives and establish an ideal society based on morals, virtues, justice, and solidarity. The Glorious Quran contains the fundamentals of the Islamic legislations, the pillars of Islam, the lawful and the unlawful, rules of good manners, the history of previous nations, and the stories of the Prophets and their struggle and sacrifice in order to convey the call for monotheism.

Allaah gave the Glorious Quran several attributes, including:

- Guidance. Allaah, the Almighty, said (what means):

"Verily, this Quran guides to that which is most just and right."

[Quran: 17:9]

- Perfection. Allaah, the Almighty, said (what means):

his day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion." [Quran: 5:9]

Allaah, the Almighty, also said (what means):

"And We have sent down to you the Book (the Quran) as an exposition of everything." [Quran: 16:89]

- Healing for the hearts. Allaah, the Almighty, said (what means):

"O mankind! There has come to you a good advice from your Lord (i.e. the Quran, ordering all that is good and forbidding all that is evil), and a healing for that (disease of ignorance, doubt, hypocrisy and differences, etc.) in your hearts, - a guidance and a mercy (explaining lawful and unlawful things, etc.) for the believers." [Quran: 10:57]

The Merits of the Glorious Quran

The Glorious Quran has numerous, unparalleled merits. It is the word of Allaah sent down from Heaven to earth. Many verses refer to the merits of the Glorious Quran such as:

"And verily, it is an honorable respected Book (because it is Allaah's Speech, and He has protected it from corruption, etc.). Falsehood cannot come to it from before it or behind it (it is) sent down by the All-Wise, Worthy of all praise (Allaah)." [Quran: 41:41-42]

The merits of the Glorious Quran are not restricted to those who apply its teachings, but they also encompass those who recite and contemplate it. Allaah praised the reciters of the Glorious Quran, as He said (what means):

"Verily, those who recite the Book of Allaah (this Quran), and perform As¬-Salaat (Iqamat¬us¬-Salaat), and spend (in charity) out of what We have provided for them, secretly and openly, hope for a (sure) trade¬ that will never perish. That He may pay them their wages in full, and give them (even) more, out of His Grace. Verily! He is Oft-¬Forgiving, Most Ready to appreciate (good deeds and to recompense.)" [Quran: 35:29-30]

In addition to the above verses, there are many Hadeeths that indicate the merit of the Glorious Quran, as well as applying its teachings and reciting it. The Prophet, sallallaahu álayhi wa sallam, said: "Recite the Quran, for on the Day of Resurrection, it will come as an intercessor for those who recite it." (Muslim)

The Prophet, sallallaahu álayhi wa sallam, also said: "One who was devoted to the Quran will be told: 'Ascend (in the levels of Paradise) and recite carefully as you recited carefully when you were in the world, for your rank will be at the last verse you recite'." (Abu Daawood, At-Tirmithi, and An-Nasaa`i)

The Merits of Some Chapters of the Glorious Quran

Some Quranic Chapters are more rewarding and they have extra merits such as Al-Faatihah, Al-Baqarah, Tabaarak (Al-Mulk), Al-A`alaa, Al-Kaafiroon, An-Nasr, Al-Ikhlaas, and Al-Mu`awwithatayn (chapters113 and 114).

"Reciting chapter Al-Ikhlaas (Say (O Muhammad): "He is Allaah, (the) One.") and Al-Mu`awwithatayn three times at dawn and dusk will suffice you and safeguard you from all troubles." (Abu Daawood and At-Tirmithi)

The Merits of Certain Quranic Verses

Some Quranic verses entail great rewards when recited, such as:

- Ayat Al-Kursi (the verse of the Throne) which is Allaah's saying (what means):

"Allaah! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber, nor sleep overtake Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great." [Quran: 2:255]

On its merit, the Prophet, sallallaahu álayhi wa sallam, said:

"The greatest verse in the Book of Allaah is Ayat Al-Kursi." (Muslim)

- The last two verses of chapter Al-Baqarah.

On their merit, the Prophet, sallallaahu álayhi wa sallam, said: "It is sufficient for one to recite the last two verses of chapter Al-Baqarah at night." (Al-Bukhaari and Muslim)